ROHINI COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY
5.7 Culmann’s Method:
Culmann (1866) considered a simple failure mechanism of a slope of homogeneous soil
with plane failure surface passing through the toe of the slope.
Let AB be any probable slip plane. The wedge ADB is in equilibrium under the action
of three force:
i)weight of the wedge = . ℎ. = ℎ − − − −(1)
ii)The cohesive force C along the surface AB, resisting motion=
iii)The reaction R, inclined at angle φm to the normal
Now, = ( )
=
( )
Hence ℎ =
Substitute h value in equation 1
1 1 sin ( − !)
. ℎ. == − − − − − (2)
2 2 sin
If C and φ are the appropriate shear strength parameter,the shear strength (τf) along the
slip plane
"# = . + %&'!. ()*+ − − − − − (3)
Fig5.27 Culmann’s method using planar failure surface
The weight component parallel to the plane AC causing sliding is " = ' *!
./ 0123045 6789
Factor of safety- = =
. 35 8
Substituting the value of W in the above equation
CE8491 SOIL MECHANICS
ROHINI COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY
1
+ [sin ( − !)/ sin ]%&'!()*+
-= 2 − − − − − −(4)
1 sin( − !)
2 = '* > ' *!
@
Let Cm be the mobilised cohesion = and φm=angle of mobilised friction =
A
6789
tan D E
A
Considering AB to be the failure plane,
= =
sin (! − + ) sin (90 + + ) %&'+
I
@H 1 1K 5 8( )
Substituting for the weight W, we get = J
( 9H ) 5 8 0459H
1 sin(! − + ) sin( − !)
= L M
2 ' * %&'+
1
= %&'N% 'N%+ sin( − !) sin(! − + )
2
@H
where = O8 ' ) '()P Q (R *STPNU
K
1
O8 = %&'N% 'N%+ sin( − !) sin(! − + ) − − − −(5)
2
For failure to occur, the stability number(Sn) has to be maximum.The plane is which
(θ=θc) the Sn becomes maximum.
W(O8 ) W
= [sin( − !)sin (! − + )] = 0
W! W!
&U cos(! − + ) sin( − !) − sin(! − + ) cos( − !) = 0
&U ()*(! − + ) = tan( − !)
&U ! − + = − !
Making θ=θc = critical angle,we get !0 = ( + + ) − − − − − (6)
This gives the angle of inclination of critical slip plane
Substituting θc in eqn 5
1 ++ ++
[ \ = %&'N% 'N%+ sin [ − \ sin [ −+ \
7] 2 2 2
1 1 − cos ( − + )
= %&'N% 'N%+ [ \
2 2
CE8491 SOIL MECHANICS
ROHINI COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY
1 − cos ( − + )
[ \ =
7] 4' * %&'+
4' * %&'+
= − − − −(7)
7]
(1 − cos( − + ))
In the above equation Cm and φm are known corresponding to a factor of safety F and
the Culmann’s method is suitable for very steep slopes.
CE8491 SOIL MECHANICS
